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Sustainability

Sustainability refers to the ability to meet current needs without hindering the ability to meet the needs of future generations in terms of economic, environmental and social challenges.

Note: The concept of sustainability is embedded throughout the ISM Principles of Sustainability and Social Responsibility. However, the concept is addressed as a stand-alone principle to provide additional perspective and context.

In this context:

  1. Develop knowledge and processes to ensure understanding of sourcing decisions and their impact on sustainability.

  2. Determine information required from suppliers to manage sustainability initiatives.

  3. Participate in organizational strategic goal-setting for sustainability.

  4. Develop strategies, policies and procedures to support organizational sustainability goals and objectives that improve management of risk and business continuity initiatives.

  5. Ensure these concepts support the use of socially and sustainability aware suppliers within the source-selection process.

  6. Conduct and participate in supplier compliance sustainability reviews and visits. Develop and implement improvement plans as appropriate.

  7. Encourage the publication and distribution of the organization’s sustainability reports.

  8. Actively identify and utilize socially and sustainability committed suppliers.

  9. Publish sustainability results and accomplishments.

ISM Resources:

Other Resources:

Note: For additional links, refer to the Environment page on the ISM Web site.

  • American Public Media This Web site showcases stories produced by American Public Media on the topic of sustainability, as well as links to news, blogs, and other sustainability resources. It includes a link to an interactive game, "Consumer Consequences," that enables readers to calculate the impact their lifestyles have on the planet.

  • The Center for Sustainable Innovation (CSI) is a non-profit corporation that conducts research, development, training, and consulting for, and with, global companies interested in achieving sustainability in human affairs.

  • Co-op America is a not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to harness economic power to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. The organization focuses on economic strategies to solve social and environmental problems, addressing issues of social justice and environmental responsibility.

  • Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes - Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. Based on the cooperation of Dow Jones Indexes, STOXX Limited and SAM they provide asset managers with reliable and objective benchmarks to manage sustainability portfolios.

  • Forum for the Future is a non-profit organization that partners with leaders in business, government and education to find economic, social, technological and environmental solutions to build a more sustainable society.

  • The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World is a project initiated by Corporate Knights Inc., and independent Canadian-based media company, with Innovest Strategic Value Advisors Inc. a leading research firm specializing in analyzing "non traditional" drivers of risk and shareholder value including companies' performance on social, environmental and strategic governance issues. Launched in 2005, the annual Global 100 is announced each year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

  • Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) is an organization that aims to influence the sustainability debate, inform the public of its members' voluntary actions in the area of sustainability, and provide information to foster sustainable development.

  • Global Institute of Sustainability is an initiative that enables Arizona State University to address regional and global environmental threats through the study of ecological, economic and societal issues that play a vital role in the viability of the planet.

  • Global Reporting Initiative is a multi-stakeholder process and independent institution whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable Sustainability Reporting Guidelines for voluntary use by organizations for reporting on the economic, environmental and social dimensions of their activities, products, and services. GRI is an official collaborating centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and works in cooperation with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Global Compact.

  • Institute for Sustainable Communication (ISC) promotes awareness and adoption of economically, socially and environmentally sound sustainable development practices in the use of communication media. The organization's particular expertise and focus is on enterprise publishing, printing and packaging.

  • International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) promotes policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic instruments, climate change, measurements and indicators, and natural resource management to make development sustainable.

  • The Natural Step An nonprofit organization founded with the vision of creating a sustainable society. They work to promote global sustainability by guiding companies and governments onto an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable path by using a set of sustainability principles to drive innovation.

  • Roberts Environmental Center (Claremont McKenna College) This academic institution's current research is focused on global corporate environmental transparency and performance. They analyze organizations' environmental and sustainability data using the Pacific Sustainability Index (PSI) and publish the results on their Web site.

  • Social Venture Network is an organization that promotes new model and leadership for socially and environmentally sustainable business. They champion this effort through initiatives, information services and forums.

  • Sustainable Dictionary a project of the Presidio School of Management, this Web site is an open dictionary of sustainability and business-related terms for business leaders and students.

  • Sustainable Procurement Task Force is an organization developed in May 2005 that is developing an action plan to bring about change in sustainable public procurement in the UK. The site includes links to an action plan and sustainable procurement case studies.

  • Sustainability101.com provides links to news, articles and resources on sustainability practices relating to the social responsibility principles of environment and financial responsibility.

  • Sustainability-Reports.com is a portal for sustainability reports of multinational companies worldwide. From the site, you can download environmental, social, CSR and sustainability reports or order the hard copy version, and you can browse the reports by sector, country or alphabetically.

  • SustainableBusiness.com provides global news and networking services to help green business grow, covering all sectors; renewable energy, green building, sustainable investing and organics.

  • Triple Pundit is a Web site focused on responsible business in the context of today's environmental and social challenges. The site contains numerous articles and links to green business and sustainability Web sites.

  • World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) provides business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development, as well as resources for business operating in a world shaped by sustainable development issues. The Council focuses on four areas: energy and climate; development; the business role; and ecosystems.

  • WorldChanging.com is a a solutions-based online magazine that includes topics relating to several sustainability initiatives, community, green building, socially responsible investing, environmental concerns and more.



 
Related Resources:

ISM News - May 2010

ISM News - April 2010

CPSM® Instructor Kit - Set — Exams 1, 2 & 3

Groups and Forums Case Studies

CPSM® Instructor Kit - Exam 3
Content Recommendations:

ISM-ADR School for Supply Management DNAII Demo

Inside Supply Management - September 2010

Global Business Trends -- September 2010

Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®

Performance Metrics


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